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<title>ProMRDS Chapter 10 - VPL Basics</title>
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<p class="heading"><span class="smallhead">Professional</span><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio<br />
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<h1>Chapter 10 - Visual Programming Language Basics</h1>

<h2>Summary</h2>
<p>
The Microsoft Visual Programming Language (VPL) is a new application development environment
designed specifically to work with DSS Services. Programs are defined graphically in data flow
diagrams rather than the typical sequence of commands and instructions found in other programming
languages.
VPL is useful for beginning programmers because they can quickly specify their intent but it
is also well suited to help with prototyping for more experienced programmers because it can
generate C# code.
</p>
<p>
This chapter covers:
</p>
<ul>
<li>What it means to work with a data flow language,</li>
<li>How to specify a data flow diagram using the basic activities provided by VPL,</li>
<li>How to run and debug a diagram.
</li>
</ul>

<h2>Contents</h2>
<p>
This chapter contains nine basic VPL examples, starting with the
obligatory "Hello World". The links below show screenshots of the
VPL diagrams.
</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="images/Hello.jpg">1-hello</a></li>
<li><a href="images/HelloDialog.jpg">2-hello dialog</a></li>
<li><a href="images/Notifications.jpg">3-notifications</a></li>
<li><a href="images/Variables.jpg">4-variables</a></li>
<li><a href="images/Loops.jpg">5-loops</a></li>
<li><a href="images/LoopsInOrder.jpg">6-loops (in order)</a></li>
<li><a href="images/CustomActivity1.jpg">7-customactivity</a> and <a href="images/CustomActivity2.jpg">For Loop</a></li>
<li><a href="images/CustomActivityInOrder1.jpg">8-customactivity (in order)</a> and <a href="images/CustomActivityInOrder2.jpg">For Loop</a></li>
<li><a href="images/Lists.jpg">9-lists</a></li>
</ul>
<p>
The last example, Lists, is fairly complex and involves several custom activities.
Only the first diagram is shown via the link above.
</p>
<p>
Note that to use VPL you should have at least 1GB of memory in your PC.
</p>

<h2>Legal Stuff</h2>
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This code is available free of charge for non-commercial use.
Please see the <a href="../Licence.htm">Licence Agreement</a>.
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